they clearly have bought time with what mario draghi did, but they've done some structural forums. they've raised their pension ages. they've done labor market reform. nothing has happened in the united states. actually nothing. there's reasons for optimism from the shale. people are excited talking about that. and there's some optimism coming from the easy money, i suppose, still. but i think in the united states, you know, if we get to the consensus, which needs to be 3% at the end of the year, i think that would be good. >> let me ask you about the economy, relative to what's going on in washington. we know this week that the house voted to extend the debt ceiling for a few months. we still face the sequestration and the continuing resolution. how does this play out? >> forever. >> feels like that. >> forever. they don't agree. so we're seeing an overlay of this, you know, one side the republicans, the other side the democrats. and i must say post-election, president obama has become more aggre aggressive. military spending, they don't agree with what taxation should be, title,